In 1604 King James I of England authorized that a new translation
of the Bible into English be started. It was finished in 1611 just
85 years after the first translation of the New Testament into
English appeared (Tyndale 1526). The Authorized Version or King
James Version quickly became the standard for English-speaking
Protestants. Its flowing language and prose rhythm has had a
profound influence on the literature of the past 400 years. The
King James Version present on the Bible Gateway matches the 1987
printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.